Lufthansa, pre-WW2, S. America?

[cooperplace]

I've just finished reading Ernest Gann's fabulous 'Fate is the Hunter" about his experiences flying DC2/3 etc pre-WW2. In this great book he mentions that at the start of WW2, the US Govt forced Lufthansa out of S America, and to compensate the govts of Brazil and other places, Uncle Sam gave them some nice new Lockheed Lodestars, some of which Gann flew down there. Does anyone know anything about this? It's a fascinating bit of history.

[Stanwell]

cooperplace,
I confess I don't know much more about that era in South America than is covered in EKG's most excellent book that you'd mentioned above.
Pan American's history seems to avoid the political side of things as well.
However... I would suggest that the Aviation History & Nostalgia sub-forum might be able to steer you in the right direction.
There are some pretty cluey PPRuNers that read and contribute there.